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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida, clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the You can reach us toll free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family.

How do I know I’m saved? Because the Word of God says I’m saved. The word says so. And I could say, God says I am. You see, God was there when it happened. If God is God, and He is, and we studied the other day in the book of Acts 15 about people who had heard the gospel and received the Holy Spirit. only where they can receive the Holy Spirit is because God knows the heart and knows they believed because those that believed would receive and they did.

And it was the only requirement because they received it the moment they believed it. So that means that they’re saved at the moment of belief and they had not yet lived any life in no way, shape or form. And yet they were saved. And that’s why Paul says, we shall be saved,” or Peter made the statement, even as they are saved by faith, grace alone in Christ alone. So here he made the statement in verse 16, you ought to underline this verse, It’s a wonderful verse.

The spirit himself or its embarrassed witness with our spirit that we are present tense right now are the children of God. Because we are the children of God. We have received the Holy Spirit. Now look there in the book of Ephesians in chapter one, the book of Ephesians and chapter one. Ephesians chapter one and look in verse 13, verse 13 says, in whom ye also trusted because it goes back to verse 12. Verse 12 says that ye should be to the praise of his glory who first, what did you do?

Trusted. You see, when you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, because you heard or believed that he died and paid for all of your sins. And you believed that. You’re trusting him as your Savior. So then verse 13 is written to those who trusted. After that, he heard the word of truth, the gospel, the good news of salvation. You heard it. You believed it. You trusted him. In other words, I am depending upon what he said and what he did was for me.

I believe that. And notice what it says, that when you believed that, in whom also after that you believed, or the moment you believed, having believed, you were what? Silled with the Holy Spirit that he had promised. So what did you do? I heard the gospel. I believed it. I trusted Christ as my Savior. And the moment you believed it, you received not only the free gift of eternal life, you received the Holy Spirit of God. And you became a child of God.

Your confidence that you’re saved should not be because, well, I changed my life. Well, I joined the church while I sang them to choir. I became a Deacon. That has absolutely nothing to do with your salvation. And if you think so, you don’t get it. You see, when I say I was saved 51 years ago, in that little old living room, that’s the day I got saved. That’s where I was. This is what happened to me. It never happens again.

You have never been saved twice. It’s impossible. I talked to one man one time. I said, have you been born again? He says, yes. I said, well, wonderful, great. I said, when he said, oh, many times, he believed in reincarnation. Woo. So. whoa So there’s a lot of people who really don’t understand when you get saved and he saves you from hell. He gives you eternal life. He can’t give you eternal life twice. He can’t save you from hell twice.

Why? Because it’s appointed under every man once to die. Man don’t go to hell twice. He only goes once. But if Christ died for him, he saves him and only has to save him once. Because he paid for all of his sins. Not some of them or most of them were up to the time he believed. He paid for all of them 2,000 years ago. Never has to be done again. Such a simple thing, but look in the last part of verse 13 again.

He says, after that ye believed, you are sealed with that Holy Spirit of Plumb, sealed. You are in His hands and no man can pluck you out of His hand. You’re safe. You’re secure. That’s salvation. Now take your Bible and look at the other scripture. One that we know that he is the spirit of truth. And he bears witness with our spirit. What would he tell me the truth? He can’t tell me a lie. He can only tell me the truth.

And the Holy Spirit tells us what’s in the Word of God. He manifest the Son of God. He reveals the Son of God. The Holy Spirit is not about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is all about Christ. Look in 1 John chapter 5. 1 John and chapter 5. You’ve seen some of these verses many a time. But it won’t hurt to look at them one more time. And 1 John chapter 5, I want to know that there’s things that God says that bear witness of something.

So just very quickly, look there in verse 5 of 1 John chapter 5. Who is he that overcomeeth the world? But he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God. This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ, not by water only, but by water and blood. And get this. And it is the spirit that beareth witness because the spirit is what? Truth. Truth bears witness with my spirit. And what is the truth? What did God say?

You should always base your beliefs upon a foundation that will not change. The solid rock, the Word of God. You see what I believe 51 years ago? 51 years later it hasn’t changed. This book doesn’t change. It’s rock solid. And it has given me the stability of my soul. And I have great peace of mind. I never questioned, never doubt my salvation. because I know what God said. And that means more to me than anything else in the world.

My pastor that was up there has come and gone. A lot of my relatives have come and gone. The guy who led me to the Lord is dead and gone. But there were somebody else that was there that night, and he bears witness to the truth. He knows, I believed, and the foundation of swick stand of sure, having this seal, the LORD knoweth them that are his, and he has revealed his word, it is the truth. Look what he says there in verse 7, and there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit.

And these three the one, the arthry that bear witness in earth, the spirit and the water and the blood. These three agree in one. Then he makes a awesome statement. If we can receive the witness of men, and I asked them not long ago, I said. Anybody here ever been to Russia? Nobody had been to Russia. I said, how many believe there is a Russia? Everybody. I said, why do you believe in something? You’ve never been there. You haven’t seen it.

Oh, you know what somebody told you. Did you know that there’s still people today that never have accepted the idea that man has actually walked on the moon? They think it was all done in the studio. Never really happened. But I’ll be honest with you. I believe men did walk on the moon. I believe that they have put things in space.

I believe a lot of it, but I can’t prove, but I believe it. If we can receive the witness of man, what man says, and that’s why in the day at a court of law we have to have witnesses, somebody to testify, somebody to speak up about your character, somebody just gave me a piece of a paper the other day, he says, would you kind of give a reference for me on my character? I said, yeah, you’re quite a character.

But to witness, to say something about somebody as though it’s got some validity to it. But did you know the greatest witness in all the world is the Lord? Look what he says. The witness of God is greater. And the witness of God is the Holy Spirit that you have received. Look in verse 10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness where? In himself. In other words, somebody who witnesses to me, testifies to me, tells me something, and he only tells me the truth.

But he witnesses with my spirit through the Word of God. So as I read the Word of God and I study it, and did you know the verse that helped me more than any other verse in the whole Bible to know that I really have eternal life, was 1 John chapter 5 verse 13. You have no idea how many times Mr. Jackson had to read that verse to me. I’d love to say I never had a question or a doubt, but I did.

Many a time I wondered, am I really saved? Lord if I really didn’t mean it the other day, I really mean it now. Did it every day. My father says, yeah, ain’t he? What did God say? I know, but, well, I really believed it. I believe it. But I was still because I’m human. And I didn’t have all my confidence, but I didn’t know the Bible. But when he started showing me that verse in John 6, 47, very, very I send to you, he that believeth on me, hath, present tense, right now, hath everlasting life.

And but it started to give me such wonderful peace. Because see, if you don’t get grounded in the Word of God, did you know the devil can come along and lie to you and tell you, you’re not really saved. I mean, if you were really saved, you would be smoking. You wouldn’t want to drink. You wouldn’t want to go out here and sin. That’s a sign you’re not really saved. You don’t want to go to church, do you? You don’t read your Bible.

You don’t pray. That’s a sign you’re not saved. I guess I’m not saved. You see, it’s because you believed a lie. peace of mind come from believing the truth. And look what he said. In verse 10, he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself, he that believeth not God hath made him a liar. Because it doesn’t believe what God said. Because he believeth not the record that God gave of his son. So there is a record that God gave that we are to believe and if we will believe it, the Holy Spirit of God will bear witness with our spirits.

This is true and I believe it. So therefore, according to what God says, I am saved. How do you know the word of God says I’m saved? He said, if I believe it, I’m saved. I believe it, then I’m saved. Can you believe the word of God? So the Holy Spirit within you is to help you see and understand what God’s word says. So your feelings is not what determines whether I know I’m saved. No, I know I’m saved because the Holy Spirit tells me from God’s Word.

This is what God said. And I believe what God says. Look what He says there in verse 11. This is the record. That God hath given past tense to us those that I believe. What did he give us? Eternal life. And this life is where? In the church, pink commandments, living a good life? He’s in his son. So when you accept the son, you have eternal life. And if it’s eternal life, how long would it last? Well, it lasts forever.

And if it lasts forever, and all of your sins are paid, then where would you go when you die? You’d get to go to heaven whenever you die. Most important thing in all the world. So the Holy Spirit witnesses with us with a through the truth of the Word of God. Now look what he says there in verse 13, these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

Now I want you to focus upon that word of prayer written. These these things have I written? Written. You see, what’s so important about that is because you see, the witness that we have is the Holy Spirit that wants us to believe what is written so that your confidence comes from the written Word of God. Not because you have a feel or a chill or a thrill or a spill. It’s all because of what does the Word of God say.

these things have I written unto you. Not these things have I let you feel and experience so that you’ll know. No, I wrote you something. And what I wrote is how you’re to know that you’re saved. So that you don’t trust somebody, some act. It’s only because you believed that what Christ did, He did it for you. And you’re trusting Him from Ephesians chapter one, verse 12 and 13, that you believe that he died and paid for all of your sins and you’ll go to heaven on what Christ did for you.

And that’s how you can know, know positively that you’re saved. Take your Bible and turn there to the book of 1 John and chapter 3. 1 John chapter 3. 1 John chapter 3, and notice what he says here. In verse 1, verse 1. He says, behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Beloved, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed? Is hath bestowed past tense? I don’t think it’s future tense.

It looks like it says, half bestowed, it’s already done. Not going to, I am a child of God. Beloved, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. So how do I know I’m a son of God? He said so. I don’t need anything else is proof. I don’t need anybody else to try to convince me of anything else. God said, look at the next verse. In verse two he says, be levied, and I want you to take that word now and circle it.

Now are we the sons of God? Now if I am now a child of God, and if I could lose my salvation in the future, then I would not be a child of God. Then at the last day, as he said, some will stand at the door and not and says, have we not prophesied in thy name? And cast out devils in thy name and done many wonderful works. But not one time did they say, we’ve trusted Christ as our Savior.

They only talked about what they’ve done. And Jesus says, depart from me ye that work iniquity. I never knew you. Now that you were a child of God at one time, then he would know us. But then if you could not be a child of God, then he doesn’t know you as his child. But he can’t say, I never knew you if you ever were. So you can’t get saved and then get lost. The only people who go to hell are those that are not a child of God.

And once you are a child of God, God makes us a promise. Look at this awesome promise right here in this wonderful verse. A verse too. Beloved, now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be? Shall be, that’s future, but get this. But we know that when he shall appear, Here’s a promise. We shall be like him. It did not say if we hang on to the end and endure to the end and if we can make it without losing our salvation, we’ll be like him someday.

No? The only condition here is when he shall appear. I’m going to be just like I am now a child of God, the promise. I am. That’s a definite statement. That’s the truth. That’s what I am a child of God. And when he shall appear, I shall be just like him. I won’t have no sinful nature like I do right now. I’ll be just as perfect and righteous as he is without a flesh nature. In God’s eyes, my spiritual birth is as perfect and as righteous as the Lord.

But one day I’ll be just like him. That’s a promise. Who is the promise to? those that are now a child of God. So if I am now a child of God and he promises me that when he shall appear, I shall be just like him. That can’t be changed. That can’t be altered. He can’t change his mind. See the word of God is truth. And you and I can have great peace of mind when we can take God at his word.

But did you know that as a child of God, there are many promises in the Word of God, precious, precious promises, that you and I are supposed to know, believe, claim, but we forfeit because we don’t read the Word of God or believe what he wrote. That’s why it should behoove every child of God. Study the written word. Put the word of God into your mind. Believe that it is true. His spirit bears witness with my spirit through the word of God about that which is written to believe it.

And then I can know that what God says is true. And I know that I know that I know that I know that I know that I know. Do you know that you know? I know I have eternal life. Are you saved? How many of you know positively beyond the shadow of doubt? You know that you are saved and you’re going to heaven when you die. Let me see, Anne. Put your hand down. I mean, no, you’re going to hell.

See, you don’t have to hope. the guests, you can say, I know. Well, that’s a good news. I love that. Let me show you something. Never seen this before. This hand represents you and me. The wallet represents all the things that we do that’s sinful. You and I have all sinned, but God loves us. Now He hates our sin, but He loves us. So, yes, God loves you in spite of everything that you’ve ever done. And it doesn’t matter how bad you have been.

It doesn’t even matter how bad you’re going to be. God so loved the world. He hates our sin. And the pay for that is eternal separation from God in a place called hell, but God loves us and wants us to go to heaven. And to go to heaven, we have to be perfect as righteous as God and none of us are. We’ve all come short of God’s righteousness. I had somebody that really did me something wonderful. Well, it’s kind of a mixed emotions.

You know, sometimes I like to play the game of golf. Y’all didn’t know that. I thought I’d tell you that. Confession is good for the soul. I was playing golf with a guy one day and he missed the ball. Well, he missed the ball. He missed the cup on the putting green. I said, that’s Harmatano. He looked at me. You missed the mark. Well, later on I talked to him. I just got something wonderful for my birthday. Two big boxes of golf balls.

And on the golf ball, every one of them had stamped. Yankee Arnold. Harmatano. Every golf ball. Yankee Arnold. So now, when they find that Godfall in the woods. They’ll know this is one of them. They’ll know every one of my sins. Gary Steffen did that to me. He thought it was funny, but I like those Godfall. The Bible says that you and I, we can’t do good works to pay for all of these sins. That’s why we needed a Savior.

You see, this hand represents Jesus Christ. He’s the Lord God in the flesh. He came into the world because he loves us. He hates what we do wrong because what we do wrong separates us from the Lord called sin. So Jesus Christ who had no sin didn’t have to die, but He took all the sins upon Himself, paid for everything all mankind has ever done. So that anybody in the world at any given time, you can say, I believe he did that for me.

And if you will believe, you will receive. That’s his promise. If you’ll believe it, you’ll receive it. You will receive the forgiveness of sins. You will receive the gift of eternal life and you receive the Holy Spirit, God Himself that lives within you. And He wants to teach you His Word. these things have I written unto you that believe that you may know you have eternal life. Let’s pray, show it. With every head bowed and every eye closed and no one looking around, friend, would you right now just talk to the Lord?

He said, the Lord knows who you are. He knows where you are. He knows what you’ve done. He knows everything about you and he loves you anyway. He said, if you would believe that what he did The kid was for you, you would receive the free gift of eternal life, would you believe it? It’s not by works of righteousness, it’s a gift. Totally by grace, would you accept it? If you will accept Jesus Christ right now as your Savior, you can join with the rest of these that were.

Here this morning, they indicated just a moment ago by an upraised hand that they know they’re They know they have eternal life. Maybe you couldn’t raise your hand honestly. But you see, I’d like to. I want to know that I’m going to heaven. So friend right now in the quietness of this moment, just between you and the Lord, would you talk to Him? Say, Lord, I’m a sinner, friend we all are. Lord, I believe you died for me, and I’m trusting you as my savior.

My only hope of going to heaven. And if you’re making that decision, I’d like to have prayer for you. And I’m going to ask you in just a moment to raise your hand, raise your hand, doesn’t save you. Just let me know that what I said made sense to you. And I’d like to have prayer for you. I really would. I’d like to know what I said made sense. So would you trust the Lord? If you will, just slip your hand very quickly and put it right back down.

So in law, in law, if you’ve already trusted Christ as you say, you don’t have to do it. But if you’ve never trust the Lord, why not right now, said, Lord, I believe, I believe. Our Father, we thank You so much for all You’ve done for us, for the privilege we have of coming together as a body of believers and Father to have our confidence, our assurance, our peace of mind because we believe what You said, what You wrote in Your Word.

Bless us in Christ and in return. Amen. Are You a new listener to Bibleline? Do you enjoy the teachings of Dr. Arnold? Well, if you’ve never contacted us before, we want to give you Dr. Arnold’s book, The Gospel Driven Man. Every day we receive many emails from folks who have questions about repentance and salvation, about faith in works, and about how to share the gospel with friends and loved ones. This book, The Gospel Driven Man, covers all those topics, and we want all new listeners of Bibleline to receive a free copy.

There’s no obligation, no donation necessary, simply call us at 1-800-576-3771, or write to us and request your free copy of the Gospel-Driven Man. The mailing address is 4811, George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Again, don’t forget to include your mailing address, and God bless you and thank you for listening to Bibleline. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline. If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us. The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634.

And now, a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound. And we will be changed. Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day. Believing that the Lord is coming soon, just keep looking up.